This VICE UK opinion piece takes abolitionist Julie Bindel to task for her use of the term “pimp lobby” to dismiss sex workers fighting for their rights.

The largest study ever done on trafficking survivors finds that people who’ve been trafficked for sex (and the Reuters article doesn’t specify what that means, an important oversight given the very flexible definitions of sex trafficking) have much better mental health overall than survivors of other forms of trafficking.

In another brilliant move which distracts attention from actual human rights and labor abuses in strip clubs in order to refocus attention on the mythical specter of strip club trafficking, the US state of Indiana is debating making birth certificates and proof of US residence requirements for working as a stripper. Apparently…

Up until now, the state has not required the performers to show documents typically required at other workplaces.

Strip club owners would have to take photos of each stripper and job applicant, and keep them on file for at least three years.

That sounds safe and not at all open to abuse.

City Paper links to Seattle SWOP’s struggles against the proposed End Demand legislation, and then, inexplicably, rather than talking to a sex worker about sex work, they interview Dan Savage. There were no members of Seattle SWOP available, perhaps? They were all in Olympia that day and couldn’t take the call?

Dominique Strauss Kahn continues to detrimentally affect the French sex worker community, as his trial gives prohibitionists fodder to reintroduce the End Demand model to the senate. French sex workers are understandably bummed out.

US lawmakers are pushing the anti-trafficking agenda in talks with Cuba and Malaysia, with arrant disregard for the fact that trafficking is a labor and migration issue first and foremost, something US policies do nothing to assuage.

From Northern Ireland comes the story of two Chinese migrants to the UK: one of whom was kept captive and sexually assaulted, the other who began escorting on her own because it requires little start up capital and pays so much more than other job options.

There’s a notable dearth of sex worker voices in this article about the Winnipeg Salvation Army’s “one safe night off the streets” slumber party for street workers.

The Washington Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance has spoken out against prostitution stings conducted in the DC area, pointing out that what consenting adults do behind doors is not anyone else’s business.

The Lancet is staffed by public health and medical professionals, and their research involves large groups and thorough methods; despite this, One News Now has apparently decided that one person, a prohibitionist activist, is evidently all the evidence needed to refute the Lancet’s findings on the benefits of decriminalizing sex work. Good to know we’re all operating within the same standards of ethical research!

Escort April Adams called Cowboys4Angels,the escort agency that the reality show stars of Showtime’s Gigolos work for, and made a booking with a male escort: they compared notes and [spoiler] did not have sex:

I hurry to tell him I am an escort myself. He looks me over more carefully, and then sits back into the couch, and we talk shop.

One thing C-36 did not do is protect this escort from her incredibly abusive ex-driver, who stalked, beat, and robbed her. He is charged with “14 offences including trafficking in persons, material benefit from sexual services and robbery.” I believe stalking, assault, and robbery would probably have covered it.

After ten years as a stripper, Red quit with a bang, suing her longtime home club for sexual harassment, assault, and violating labor laws. Now a stay-at-home hooker and borderline dog hoarder, Red tries to balance running a street outreach project (strollpdx.org) with sex work and school to create a viable future outside the industry as an abortion provider and nurse practitioner working with low-income groups. Red loves dogs and hates men. Ask her about labor law any time you want!